Our latest roundtable discussion focusses on aviation journalism and to better help us understand the challenges and ups and downs of writing a good article are the journalistic legends that are Tim Robinson, Steve Bridgewater and Rich Cooper.

Enjoy hearing their techniques, challenges and unusual stories!

Recorded 7th December 2022

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Rich Cooper

Steve Bridgewater

Tim Robinson

Aviation Xtended Partners

• Royal Aeronautical Society https://www.aerosociety.com/

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• The Aviation Historian http://www.theaviationhistorian.com/

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Consider for a moment repairing and loading aircraft at -30 degrees with no cover, flying in thick cloud through heavy flak and snow with no idea if you might get through or even deliver your precious cargo.  Robert Forsyth talks us through the Luftwaffe’s Stalingrad Airlift, a less well-known event in the tragic Stalingrad story.

He brings to life the challenges, horror and heroism of the pilots and crews who tried to save those trapped in the ‘pocket’.

His new book is published by Osprey Publishing and is available now on our Bookshop and is called ‘To Save An Army: The Stalingrad Airlift’.

Robert is an author, editor and publisher specialising in historic military aviation. He set up his own publishing company in 1994 to publish his first book and has gone on to write more than thirty titles on the aircraft, campaigns and units of the Luftwaffe, an interest he has held since boyhood.

Robert is a member of the editorial board of ‘The Aviation Historian’ and was of course an expert guest on our Coastal Command series and featured in Episode 126 on the Luftwaffe’s special weapons.

To Save An Army: The Stalingrad Airlift buy it here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11161/9781472845412

Recorded 28th November 2022

Robert Forsyth

Aviation Xtended Partners

• Royal Aeronautical Society https://www.aerosociety.com/

Show Supporters

• The Aviation Historian http://www.theaviationhistorian.com/

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We are joined by Brian Harvey and Gurbir Singh authors of the book The Atlas of Space Rocket Launch Sites.

The book is the first of its kind: An atlas of all major sites where space rockets have been launched since the World’s first Sputnik in 1958.

But it also covers some historic sites, and we get to discuss these and others, as well as where launch sites are built, how they are laid out and some lesser known locations in the world for launching rockets.

XTENDED BOOKSTORE The Atlas of Space Rocket Launch Sites buy it here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11161/9783869227580

This bookstore supports our authors with higher royalties than major internet based superstores, it also supports small local bookshops and pays a small commission to Xtended on a sale.

Recorded 28th October 2022

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Brian Harvey

Twitter https://twitter.com/BrianHarveyAut1

Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Harvey_(author)

Gurbir Singh

Twitter https://twitter.com/GurbirSingh

Web www.gurbir.co.uk

https://dom-publishers.com/products/the-atlas-of-space-rocket-launch-sites

A limited number of signed copies will also be available directly from the authors, Brian in the Republic of Ireland and Gurbir in England

Aviation Xtended Partners

• Royal Aeronautical Society https://www.aerosociety.com/

Show Supporters

• The Aviation Historian http://www.theaviationhistorian.com/

You can shop through this Amazon link (No cost to you but a small benefit to us):

For Aviation and Aerospace Podcasts join https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlightAudioandVideo/

Dr Steve Bond joins us to talk about the helicopter in Fleet Air Arm service through the stories in his third book in the series of Fleet Air Arm Boys: Helicopters – True Tales from Royal Navy Men and Women Air and Ground Crew.

We talk through the history of rotorcraft in Fleet Air Arm service and their impact on operational performance.

Fleet Air Arm Boys Volume Three: Helicopters – True Tales From royal Navy Men and Women Air and Ground Crew buy it here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11161/9781911667278

Recorded 9th November 2022

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Dr Steve Bond

Aviation Xtended Partners

• Royal Aeronautical Society https://www.aerosociety.com/

XTENDED BOOKSTORE

‘Beyond’ – buy it here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11161/9780008372507

Show Supporters

• The Aviation Historian http://www.theaviationhistorian.com/

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For Aviation and Aerospace Podcasts join https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlightAudioandVideo/

This is Volume 1 of 'The Debrief', a new Xtended feature where we bring aviation people together to tell stories and share memories.

Our first guests are former Tornado pilot Mike Napier and former Phantom pilot Tug Wilson.

Join us as they discuss operating fast jets in RAF Germany and beyond during the Cold War.

Please note - this episode contains some adult language.

Recorded 4th November 2022

Find everything Xtended on our Link Tree https://linktr.ee/aviationxtended

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Michael Napier

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelNapierAuthor/

Tug Wilson

• Website: https://www.fonthill.media/products/phantom-pilot

Aviation Xtended Partners

• Royal Aeronautical Society https://www.aerosociety.com/

Show Supporters

• The Aviation Historian http://www.theaviationhistorian.com/

You can shop through this Amazon link (No cost to you but a small benefit to us):

For Aviation and Aerospace Podcasts join https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlightAudioandVideo/

Stephen Walker is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and his films have won BAFTAs, an Emmy, Royal Television Society awards and the Rose d’Or.

Today we talk to Stephen about his award-winning book ‘Beyond; The Astonishing Story of the First Human to Leave Our Planet and Journey into Space’.

‘Beyond….’ relates how the Soviet Union beat the USA to put the first human into space.

XTENDED BOOKSTORE

‘Beyond’ buy it here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11161/9780008372507

Recorded 14th October 2022

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Contact Us: [email protected]

Stephen Walker

Aviation Xtended Partners

• Royal Aeronautical Society https://www.aerosociety.com/

Show Supporters

• The Aviation Historian http://www.theaviationhistorian.com/

You can shop through this Amazon link (No cost to you but a small benefit to us):

For Aviation and Aerospace Podcasts join https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlightAudioandVideo/

Graeme Rendall returns to tell us the story behind the airfield at RAF Morpeth. 

In World War Two, RAF Morpeth was extremely important to Bomber and Coastal Commands, as the station was home to an Air Gunners School which trained airmen how to shoot effectively whilst in mid-air.

Trained gunners were constantly in demand and often in short supply. Many of the pilots of the training aircraft based at Morpeth were from other Allied nations and Graeme gives us a really interesting view of operations at the airfield. 

Post-war, like many airfields, it lost its status and faded away with only relics remaining today.

Graeme also gives us an insight to his other three Northumberland airfield books, from air crashes to storage facilities.

Recorded 15th September 2022

Graeme Rendall

Aviation Xtended Partners

• Royal Aeronautical Society https://www.aerosociety.com/

Show Supporters

• The Aviation Historian http://www.theaviationhistorian.com/

Ellie hosts our first round-table discussion on the health of the general aviation sector as it recovers from lockdown. 

Our guests on the panel are CFI Charlotte Dadswell, PPL Holder Charlotte Rositter and Eire PPL holder and Medical Examiner Kieran Murphy.

They discuss the health of the sector, how are new entrants and training being delivered and how easy it is these days to be a general aviation pilot.

Recorded 27th September 2022

Please note, some parts of this episode include discussion about mental health and wellbeing issues. If you feel you may need to reach out for support in the UK:

For Veterans: Combat Stress 24/7 0800 138 1619 and if calling is too difficult text 07537 173683

For everyone: Samaritans 24/7 Helpline 116 123

We are joined by Liz McConaghy. Liz is from a small town in County Down and spent a total of seventeen years flying with the RAF’s Chinook Force.

Aged just 21, she was the youngest aircrew member to deploy to Iraq and, for four years, was also the only female ‘crewman’ on the Chinook. In her astounding career Liz completed two deployments to Iraq followed by ten deployments to Helmand Province in Afghanistan in support of the enduring Operation Herrick campaign.

Liz talks to us about her flying career, the mighty Chinook and the after-effects of war, stress and the impact on her mental health.

This is a frank and honest interview, and we thank Liz for being so open with us.

XTENDED BOOKSTORE – Chinook Crew Chick buy it here:

https://uk.bookshop.org/books/chinook-crew-chick-highs-and-lows-of-forces-life-from-the-longest-serving-female-raf-chinook-force-crewmember/9781399072922

Recorded 10th October 2022

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Commander Paul Tremelling spent nearly twenty years flying the Royal Navy's Sea Harrier, with several exchange duties, including flying the F-18 Super Hornet.

His book 'Harrier: How To Be a Fighter Pilot', gives an honest view of the life, challenges and rewards of being on the front line, flying fighter jets.

Paul joins us for a discussion about his journey and we occasionally stray into other territory!

Recorded 12th September 2022

Buy “Harrier: How To Be a Fighter Pilot”: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/11161/9780241557044

Find everything Xtended on our Link Tree https://linktr.ee/aviationxtended